Going
Onboard A Vessel?
Working
onboard vessels is a common part of the work experience for many
in the fisheries research field. Many FOA employees have, or
will, at some point be required to work on board a vessel as part
of their task order. But before you climb onboard there
are some
polices (new and old) that you must follow before you can work onboard
a vessel.
The
first thing you must do when you are going to work onboard a
vessel is notify FOA at least two days in advance before you
depart. This is important for several reasons.
Insurance and liability is the first reason. When you work
on board a vessel you are covered under a different insurance
program. We need to make sure you are
covered before you go onboard a vessel. Second we need to make
sure that your task order has enough funding, to
cover your time on board a vessel. In addition to
ensuring that adequate funding is available for you to work onboard, we need to also make sure that the
waters your vessel will be working
in is allowed in your task order job description. For example if your task
order states that you are only authorized to work in the navigable
waters of Washington, but you are being requested to work in the
navigable waters of Oregon, then FOA will need to request a
modification for your task order.
You
may be wondering what are navigable waters? Navigable waters
are rivers, bays, lakes, and of course oceans. Basically,
anytime you are onboard a vessel you need to be covered by special
maritime insurance. In fact, as soon as you step onto
the deck you are considered to be on navigable waters, even if
your ship is in dock.
An
opportunity to work on board a vessel is a wonderful experience, an experience that you can take part
in once
you follow the proper procedures.
If
you have further questions about working on board vessels, please
contact Gene Gordon
Thanksgiving Fun Facts
The first Thanksgiving was
celebrated in 1621. The first Thanksgiving was also a feast
that lasted three days.
Thanksgiving became an official
holiday in 1941. Congress authorized Thanksgiving as a
federal holiday, after President Franklin Roosevelt set the fourth Thursday
in November as Thanksgiving in 1939. The fourth Thursday in
November was chosen as historians believed that the Mayflower
anchored off of Cape Cod on the last Thursday in November.
According to historians the
pilgrims didn't use forks. They ate everything with spoons,
knives, and their fingers!
Happy Thanksgiving
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This month we welcome two new employees, Jennifer Rogan and
Allen Cramer to FOA. Jennifer and Allen will be working for FOA at
the Hatfield Marine Fisheries Science Center in Newport, Oregon. Jennifer
is a Fisheries Biologist II, and will be functioning as a
debriefer for the Fishery Biologist Support Services. Jennifer is a
native of Chelmsford, MA, a suburb north of Boston. She has
a BA in Biology and Environmental Science from Boston
University. She has worked for various observer programs the
last four years. Jennifer likes to go hiking and camping as
she enjoys the Northwest. Allen
will be working for FOA as a Fisheries Biologist III, and
performing as a coordinator for the Fishery Biologist Support
Services. Allen
also has several years of previous observer experience.
Allen's hobbies are wood working and enjoying the outdoors.
He is a native of Port Orchard, WA and a graduate of Western Washington
University. Welcome
Jennifer and Allen. |
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Upcoming Important Dates
November 20 Pay Day
November 27- Thanksgiving.
FOA Office and Federal Offices closed.
November 28 FOA Offices
Closed
November
30-First Day of Hanukah-Hanukah is a Feast of Dedication and a Festival of
Lights. It last for eight days, and is usually celebrated in mid to late
December.
December 2 Timesheets
due into FOA Office
December 5 Pay Day
December 17 Timesheets Due
into FOA Office
December 20 Pay Day
December 24 Happy
Birthday Holly Coe!
December 24 Christmas Eve
December
25-Christmas-FOA Office and Federal Offices Closed
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